Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), Saturday 5 January 1861, page 2


Local Intelligence.

GENERAL POST OFFICE.—This office is now opened each morning at nine o'clock and closed at five o'clock in the evening; unless when specially ordered otherwise for the receipt or delivery of European or colonial mails.

IMMIGRATION.—Monday evening is ap-pointed for the delivery of Mr. Jordan's ad-dress on immigration, at the School of Arts, when we presume there will be a large attendance. The subject is one about which much interest has been evinced, and, as far as we have been able to ascertain the bent of public feeling in Brisbane, there is much anxiety on the part of the inhabitants to be-come acquainted with the new scheme.

SOUTH BRISBANE MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. —The next lecture to be delivered in con-nection with this institute will be given on Monday evening the 14th instant, by Mr. R. Macdonell, the subject being " Primary Education." We are informed that active efforts are being made by the Committee to establish a debating class, and persons wishing to become members are requested to send their names to the Secretary.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES.—It will be seen by advertisements which appear in another column, that, in pursuance of the proposal made by the British Evangelical

Alliance for the members of the various Protestant denominations to set apart the whole of next week as a special season of prayer throughout the Christian world, there will be special services at the Presbyterian Church, Ann-street, on Sunday next, and a united prayer meeting at the Wesleyan Church, Albert-street, on Tuesday evening, commencing at half-past seven.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND, KANGAROO POINT. —A public meeting of the members of the Church of England was held at the School-room, Kangaroo Point, on Wednesday even-ing last. The proceedings having been commenced in the usual manner, a series of resolutions were adopted, declaring the necessity for establishing a Diocesan Church Society for the management of the tempo-ralities of the church on a representative basis, the Bishop and clergy being ex officio members; that, as the property of the church was derived from the contributions of the laity, it was desirable that it should be vested in the hands of trustees, consist-ing of the Bishop and two or more land-owners resident in the district ; and that it would be unjust to mako the bishop the sole trustee. It having been resolved to forward copies of the resolutions lo the Bishop and the Colonial Scciclary,'anothcrrcsolution was passed to flic effect that the Tlov. Mr. Glennie be requested to explain upon what tenure the school property at Kangaroo Point was held by him. The following gentlemen were appointed as a Church Com-mittee, with power to perform the duties generally undertaken by churchwardens, namely - Messrs E. I. C. Brown, Bernays,

Barlee, Birley, Cox, Douglass, Heath, Smith, and Thornton.

CUURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS.-The an nual treat to the children attending the day schools in connection with the Church of England was given at the grounds of St. John's Parsonage on Tuesday last, New Year's Day. There were 412 children pre-sent, including those attending the schools at St. John's (North Brisbane), Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane, and Kangaroo Point, and a large number of spectators, comprising most of tlie members of the church and parents of the children. The elerey present were tlie Rev. Messrs. Moscly, Moffatt, and Tomlinson. The proceedings commenced at two o'clock by a short reli-gious service, during which an address was delivered by the Bishop on the example afforded lo young children by Ibu early life of our Lord. The children then proceeded in marching order to tlie Queen's Park, where they entertained themselves for about two hours in games of various descriptions. The flags borne .b3' many of the children, especially those of Fortitude Valley, are deserving of favorable mention. They then returned to the Parsonage where, through the liberal contributions of friends, an ample repast of tea, cakes, fruit, Seo., had been prepared for them. This over, the Bishop di.tributed to 50 of the children who hid been in attendance above 200 days in the year, prizes of books. Pre-sents consisting of knives, balls, dresbed dolls, sweetmeats, &c, were then given to all the children, from two large Christmas trees placed under tents on the grounds. At the conclusion of this ceremony, the children, after giving three hearty cheers in ac-knowledgement of the enjoyment they had felt, and the kindness of the numerous con-tributors, returned to their respective homes. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen visited the grounds during the afternoon, and remained there for some time. We may mention that Lady Bowen not only took great interest in getting up the treat, but contributed largely both to the Christ-mas trees and refreshments. Great praise is duo to Mr. Walter Hill who arranged the trees, and to the following ladies who formed the committee of management for the admirable arrangements made by them, namely-Mesdames Bell, Kembali, Cannan, Ebsworth, Gibbon, Macdougall, Moffatt, Mosely, and Shepherd Smith, and the Misses Geary and Barney.

No. 2 VOLUNTEER RIFLE COMPANY.

The meeting of this company announced for last evening took place in the Immigration Barracks at the conclusion of drill, and, con-sidering the state of the weather, it was well attended. Captain Drury having been called to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, it was resolved, on the proposition of privato Webb, seconded by private Hall, that a committee be formed to frame a code of bye-laws for the enforcement of fines and the ultimate cutting off from the rolls of the names of absentees. A committee was then appointed consisting of Lieutenant Petrie, Sergeant Caisarowicz, and privates Jennings, and J. Smith. The challenge given by the No. 1 Company to shoot for a silver mounted rifle was then introduced, and, after some conversation, it was proposed by Private Taylor, seconded by Private Hall, " that tho challenge bo not accepted." t To this an amendment was proposed by Ser-geant Fowles, " that the challenge be ac-cepted,"and on its being seconded was carried unanimously. It having been arranged that the cost of the rifle should be borne conjointly by the two companies, a sub-scription was opened and between six and seven pounds collected. We understand that the match is expected to come off in

about three months.

BUILDING SOCI.TV, NO. 4.-We would remind those interested in this newly-formed society that the first meeting for the receipt of monthly instalments, the enrolment of members, and the sale of shares, will be iîtLjield at the Police Office, on Monday evening »«.'í-ñWírírí'aio usual time..^ ^

AGRIOULTURALIIKSERVES.-The govern-ment have resolved upon proclaiming an ag-ricultural reserve on the Logan River. The boundaries of this, and the extended boun-daries of the Drayton and Toowoomba re-serve, will, wo understand, be proclaimed in the Government Gazette of to-day.

DRAYTON AGRICULTURAL RESERVE.-It having been stated by our Downs corres-pondent in a recent letter, that Mr. Jordan had spoken in condemnatory terras of tlie Agiicultural Reserves at Drayton and Too-woomba, that gentleman writes to the B. I). Gazette to the following effect :-." In answer to a question put to me, I said I did not think the reserve at Toowoomba, as at first marked out, was generally suitable for the purposes of agriculture, but that one of the gentlemen now ougaged in survoying had informed him that a large block was to be added to it on both sides of Gowrie Creek, which would include the very best land for the purpose in that locality. I passed no opinion in reference to the Drayton Reserve, merely remarking that if the people in the neighbourhood thought it un-fitted for the purpose I wa3 sure tho Govern-ment was not to blame in the matter, as it was intended by the Government that the very best lands should be put into the Agricultural Reserves."

TriE KEROSINE LIGHT.-Messrs. J. and C. Phillips, two gentlemen from Melbourne, havo just introduced into Brisbane, a first importation of kerosine oil lamps, tho capa-bilities of which hive loug been known and appreciated in the neighbouring colony of Victoria. The peculiarities of this new light are, that the lamps are simple in con-struction, emit very little, if any, smoke, and may be burnt for several nights in succes-sion without trimming. The oil is very clear, and has no nauseous smell about it, and wo beliove it to bo identical with tho oil now being extracted from tho clayey soil of an American State. The lamps aro very tastefully got up, and are inexpensive.

THE WEATHER. -Thursday and Friday last were two of the hottest days that havo been felt in Briabano this sum mer. On Thursday Hie thermometer stood OG dog. in tlie shade, and 115 dog. in the sun. During the night thero was a slight fall of rain, at-tended with hoavy peals of thunder, and lightning. Yesterday tho thermometer was 94 dog. in the shade, ami 120 deg. in tho sun. The heat, however, was moro severely felt than on the previous day, on account of the cloudiness of the sky and tho stillness of the air. . About half-past five a heavy shower fell, accompanied with lightning and thunder, which considerably cooled the at-mosphere. It was rumotued yesterday, that two fatal cases of cou}) de soleil had occurred, but as the Coroner had heard nothing about thom, wo conclude that the report was un-

founded.

" BREAKING INTO" A CHAPEL.-A rather amusing instance of foiciblc-we cannot say burglarious-entry, occurred on Thurs-day evening last, in which our venerable friend " tlie Univorsal Secretary," and in-terminable linguist took a most prominent part. It seems, that the School of Arts on this particular evening was required for the usual practice meeting of the Choi al Society, but, wheiher by accident or other-wise, this arrangement was not destined to be eui ried out in consequence of the build-ing having been previously let to tho Acrobatic Company. Air. Innes, howover, who has a kind of secretorial feeling for

both bodies, was determined not to bo f , boa ton, and he accordingly set his wits to j ¿ i work, ta discover, noiac. tiunnorarj awQiaiBQf [M

dation for the choralists. Remembering that the building adjacent to the School of Arts, known as the Primitive Methodist Chapel, had been used by the society on former occasions he peremptorily decreed that it should be patronised in the same manner on this occasion. But there arose a serious difficulty. The chapel was there, but no one could tell how the choralists were to get in. It was1 resolved at last that as the building belonged to a primitive body, and as it was extremely primitive in its struc ture, there could be no harm in adopting primitive means to effect an entry, and, therefore, we learn that two youngsters whether by a natural instinct of their own, or by a monitory wink on the part of the universal secretary, deponent sayeth not— forthwith proceeded to unfasten the windows,

and after them the doors. The harmonium, &c. were immediately removed into the chapel, and in the course of the evening about thirty ladies and gentlemen engaged in musical practice under the conductorship of Mr. Diggles. Bliss, however, is never found wholly unchequered by care or trouble, and accordingly it happened that before the performance was half over two persons entered and informed the conductor and the Rev. Mr. Moseley that the use of the chapel had been improperly obtained, and that, consequently, all those present were trespassers. One of the twain, seeing Mr. Innes in the chapel, demanded an expla-nation as to his authority for effecting a forcible entry. Mr. Innes replied by saying he had a " very good mind "—we dare not repeat the precise phrase—to administer summary punishment on the person of the questioner. In answer, however, to a fur-ther call for explanation, Mr. Innes made a few remarks in which he adduced as a reason for using the building that evening, the fact that it had been so used on several

former occasions, withoutauy objection ever having been offered. He denied, however, that he took any active part in opening the building. One of the two paities alluded to above here stated that Mr. Innes would have to answer the charge of forcible entry at the Police Court, and the company then rose and left the chapel.

ACCIDENT.-Mr. Robert Little, the solici-tor, met with an upset yesterday, while driving out with his family. A horse and dray were coming rapidly down Petrie's hill towards the town, the former having ran away from its driver, when Mr. Little, in trying to avoid coming in contact with the vehicle, capsized his dogcart clown the slop-ing bank, and all were thrown violently out. We are happy to stnte that no serious injury was received by any of the party, although Mrs. Little and the children were much bruised and shaken.